Caption: MODEL RELEASED. Asthma attack. Ten-year-old girl having an asthma attack. Asthma is a condition in which the small airways (bronchioles) in the lungs constrict, making it difficult to breathe. This causes wheezing, coughing and breathlessness, and can be dangerous. Asthma attacks can be brought on by exercise, allergic reactions and cold weather. This image might also represent choking or chest pain.